Big G graptolite gallery


The images below are a brief selection from the book 'Fossils Illustrated - Graptolites'. They are chosen to show the immense range of morphologies that graptolites display. They are also from a host of different sites and ages. For further details about the Graptolites Illustrated book see our Publications page.

Monograptus triangulatus A 'fish-hook'-shaped graptolite, this specimen comes from the lower Silurian (Llandovery) of Wales. It is preserved as a pyritized 3-D specimen.

Scale bar=1mm














Many graptolites were adept geometricians, as is this Goniograptus from the lower Ordovician (Arenig) of Victoria, Australia.

Scale bar=5mm.









Didymograptus vacillans This is a latex rubber cast of a 3-D specimen from the lower Ordovician (Arenig) of Vastergotland, Sweden. It was photographed by Jorg Maletz.

Scale bar=1mm















Torquigraptus proteus This specimen is preserved flattened as chlorite film on a bedding surface of black shale. It comes from the lower Silurian (Llandovery) of Germany, and was photographed by Manfred Schauer. The specimen is also stretched (in a direction from left to right) by 'mountain building' movements.

Scale bar=2mm




left - Rhabdinopora parabola from the lower Ordovician (Tremadoc) of Newfoundland, Canada. One of the earliest planktonic graptoloids, this specimen was photographed by Prof. Bernd Erdtmann.

Scale bar=1mm












Expansograptus similis a classic 'batwinged' form. This specimen is from the lower Ordovician (Arenig) of Newfoundland, Canada and was photographed by Henry Williams.

Scale bar=1mm

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